An energy generator (10) that converts matter in the form of a gas into an energy source. The generator functions by injecting a gas, such as hydrogen, into a confined chamber (12). The chamber includes an annular permanent magnet (30) and a rotating magnetic assembly (32) that includes a plurality of magnetic fins (36) that form a funnel shape. The combination of the magnets (30), (36) serves to accelerate and centrifugally confine and cause the gas molecules to collide with one another until t...

A circuit for delivering a predetermined amount of energy to a load without regulating the voltage across the load is described. An a.c. or rectified sine wave is controlled. There is no capacitive smoothing of the applied voltage. A time counter is activated at the beginning of each half cycle of the sine wave. At a predetermined point in time, a switch is closed and power is delivered to the load. At another predetermined time in the same half cycle, the actual applied voltage is measured. The...

A system for performing work having a hydraulic circuit has a length of hose, a hydraulic fluid in the circuit in communication with the hose and with a hydraulic actuator for doing the work, and a mechanism for pressurizing the hydraulic circuit such that at least 50 foot pounds of energy is stored within the hose to perform the work.

An energy absorber system utilizing a pair of housings having facing cavities and with a hollow deformable torsion member interconnecting the housings. One portion of the torsion member is received in the cavity of one housing and another portion of the torsion member is received in the cavity of the other housing. The housing cavities have cross-sectional conformations which receive the torsion member in such a manner that relative rotation therebetween is prevented. Rotation of one housing rel...

The energy converter includes a frame, a rotor mounted in the frame with a rotor shaft and vanes, and an element that can connect the rotor shaft to a generator, an alternator or another energy-converting mechanism. Each vane has a holder, a plurality of blades which hinge in the holder about small axes which lie in parallel relationship with the rotor shaft, and stops for the blades. The blades are a plurality of leaves which hinge on one another about axes which lie in parallel relationship wi...

An energy absorber suitable for use as a bumper core or the like is formed of an expansion-molded article of prefoamed particles. The prefoamed particles use, as the base resin thereof, a resin obtained by impregnating high-density polyethylene with an aromatic vinyl monomer and polymerizing the monomer. The absorber has a density (.rho.) of 0.015-0.15 g/cm.sup.3 and satisfies the following relation: wherein E.sub.20 (kg.multidot.cm/cm.sup.3) means the quantity of energy absorbed upon 70% compre...

An energy dissipator for downwardly discharged water utilizes a hollow cone valve located in a chamber open to the atmosphere and arranged to direct water emerging therefrom at an angle inclined downwards from the horizontal towards a region of a surrounding wall, and a pair of troughs around the inner surface of the wall above and below the region with the open mouths of the troughs facing each other. The troughs serve to reduce considerably the incoming energy of the water in a relatively smal...

A railroad vehicle end-of-car center coupler includes a telescopic energy absorber comprising a hollow cylindrical plunger in a cylinder having one closed end. The plunger has an aperture in its inner end wall. A perforated metering tube is fixed in the closed end wall by a special fixing arrangement. It projects through the aperture and carries an annular piston head which slides in the bore of the plunger. A floating piston divides the interior of the plunger into a gas space and a liquid cham...

Energy is recovered from low calorific value gas by means of a gas turbine. Heat is recovered from the turbine exhaust by indirect heat exchange with water. The resultant hot water is used to saturate the fuel and, optionally, also the combustion air, and/or to aid regeneration of an absorbent used in a wet process to remove carbon dioxide from the gas prior to combustion. Preferably the low calorific value gas is waste gas from a PSA process used to remove impurities in the production of a hydr...

A cyclic shear energy absorber for absorbing energy due to induced motion between two members by plastic cyclical deformation of a central energy absorber core. The core is surrounded by a restraining device having a rectangular cross section. Layers of the inner walls are separated by layers of resilient material. The restraining element is confined in a cylindrical aperture formed in a resilient support having alternately arranged resilient layers and stiffener layers. The absorber is confined...